What Hat Are You Wearing Today 1?

[T Rick]

Knew a guy in Arizona who had a stock response to the "it's a dry heat" thing. "Yeah? So is your oven"! I think it's all relative.

Today, still mild here (PTL!), so I'm trying out my recently arrived gray 50's Open Road. This one is currently my "beater", as I decide what to do with it. Has one spot I've gotten partially removed from the front brim, a very slight musty odor (got to work on that), and it's a size 7. I steamed and stretched it a bit to fit my size 7 1/8 head, but the brim is just slightly wonky, not sure if I can get it back how I want it or if I need to send the hat in for cleaning and blocking. (That would also kill the odor I presume, though it's very light and I think may come out with the usual treatments).

The hat came with a loose Cattleman's bash, easily returned to open crown, though a good bit of steam was needed to get the crease lines to completely disappear.

 

[monbla256]

Knew a guy in Arizona who had a stock response to the "it's a dry heat" thing. "Yeah? So is your oven"! I think it's all relative.

Today, still mild here (PTL!), so I'm trying out my recently arrived gray 50's Open Road. This one is currently my "beater", as I decide what to do with it. Has one spot I've gotten partially removed from the front brim, a very slight musty odor (got to work on that), and it's a size 7. I steamed and stretched it a bit to fit my size 7 1/8 head, but the brim is just slightly wonky, not sure if I can get it back how I want it or if I need to send the hat in for cleaning and blocking. (That would also kill the odor I presume, though it's very light and I think may come out with the usual treatments).

The hat came with a loose Cattleman's bash, easily returned to open crown, though a good bit of steam was needed to get the crease lines to completely disappear.

Amen on the heat thing! We get the same response over here That OR looks good enough to spend the jack and get it renovated and resized to me

 

[alanfgag]

Optimo Montecristi.

Looking very cool... that urban garden looks familiar.

cheers,
Alan

 

[Lefty]

Though it's near some of the places we've been, this was our first trip to this location in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

 

[T Rick]

That OR looks good enough to spend the jack and get it renovated and resized to me

No question if it's good enough. The real question is, if it's bad enough. It now fits okay. I've tweaked the brim with some steam, and it's not terrible, and I think I can get it to be better. I also think I can probably eradicate the slight odor, and even a good chance I get get out what's left of the small stain up front.

Now, in cleaning and blocking, I am a bit reluctant, and I don't want to lose any of the original components (sweatband, liner and ribbon). Do these all need to be removed? And if so, can they be put back in the same process? I have heard of "blind stitching" a sweatband in, something Henry The Hatter tells me they don't do. I presume this is stitching that doesn't fully penetrate the felt body (though I am still learning, and may well be presuming wrong). Any thoughts on all this?

 

[alanfgag]

Beautiful photos... fascinating waterfalls.

 

[bowlerman]

Lefty,
Since I left California 8 years ago, I've always been pining for a little more effervescent nature. I would not have guessed you could find such nice places in the midwest! Don't get me wrong-- the prairie and high plains have their moments, but I have to admit they are fleeting and short-lived for me. You guys always look so relaxed in your photos. By the way, nice hat.

 

[Justin B]

I could cry...

A gray OR that was my size....and you stretched it?

 

[DJH]

A little cooler here in NH today as well. I've been enjoying my Silverbelly Tumwater hat. Actually, I always enjoy wearing this hat!

 

[alanfgag]

How tall are these crowns, David... they display very impressive height in your photos!

 

[alanfgag]

Magnificent weather today... I chose my Royal Stetson Bantam from Brandeis Store, Omaha. Hard to photograph the subtle green tone to this hat. Been wearing a nice pair of Gucci boat shoes that my Dad thrifted in the Hamptons and sent my way.

 

[SteveAS]

I don't see any problem with the brim at all in the photos, but I've been able to successfully tweak brims with just steam or water and my fingers (and sometimes an iron. You don't have anything to lose by trying, so why not give it a whirl?

Now, in cleaning and blocking, I am a bit reluctant, and I don't want to lose any of the original components (sweatband, liner and ribbon). Do these all need to be removed?

You can clean a hat in naptha without removing either the liner or the sweatband, if that's what you're asking.

 

[Aureliano]

Looking very cool... that urban garden looks familiar.

cheers,Alan

Thanks, Alan. Right across from MoMA

 

[zetwal]

Magnificent weather today... I chose my Royal Stetson Bantam from Brandeis Store, Omaha. Hard to photograph the subtle green tone to this hat. Been wearing a nice pair of Gucci boat shoes that my Dad thrifted in the Hamptons and sent my way.

It's good to see you wearing it again. I thought you had given it to your daughter. That one photographs most accurately out of doors. Don't you agree?

 

[DJH]

How tall are these crowns, David... they display very impressive height in your photos!

Alan, I think about 6 inches open crown.

The arms length iPhone photos have a certain amount of distortion, but the hats Tony has made for me are probably 1/2 inch taller than most of my others.

That Bantam is very nice, by the way.

 

[Ordinary Guy]

With the heat we have around here,,,, just got to go to a Panama.....

 

[danofarlington]

With the heat we have around here,,,, just go to go to a Panama.....

There you go. That's a good combination.

 

[Lefty]

Thanks Alan and B-man. I've always loved the Great Lakes and Appalachian regions - plenty of changes with the seasons, and relatively mild weather.



Please remind me that I wrote that when I'm complaining about wind-chills and deep snow.

 

[Lefty]

Optimo Montecristi.

I want one. Great look.

Magnificent weather today... I chose my Royal Stetson Bantam

Sharp. For a lightweight, that hat looks very crisp.

 

[Aureliano]

Thanks! you should get one, Lefty. They are awesome!